[8] The town – once a busy coalmining community – is particularly noteworthy as the home of Tom Simpson (1937–1967), one of Britain's greatest road racing cyclists, the World Champion in 1965.

After his death on Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France, his body was brought back to Nottinghamshire and interred in Harworth's cemetery.

A small museum dedicated to Simpson's achievements was opened in August 2001 and can be found in the Harworth and Bircotes sports and social club.

[14] St Patrick's Catholic Church was a wooden building built in the 1930s and included the Stations of the Cross carved in coal.

[16][17] All Saints Church,[12] the war memorial,[18] and six properties in Main Street, Harworth (three barns[19][20][21] and three houses[22][23][24]) are grade II listed buildings.